The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Afrikaans name: Groot-blouoorglansspreeu

A Greater Blue-eared Starling in Kruger National Park

Photo © Steven Herbert

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

South Africa is home to a number of species of 'glossy' starling including this one - the Greater Blue-eared Starling. It occurs from the north-eastern regions of South Africa up to Senegal and Ethiopia.

These starlings are quite gregarious and may be found in small flocks. At night they are extremely gregarious and get together in large flocks at favourite roosting sites.

The Greater Blue-eared Starling mainly eats insects but it does like figs as well. Most of the time it can be seen on the ground looking for insects. It may perch on mammals and feed off their ticks.

They make their nests in holes in trees. They don't excavate their own nests so they will re-use a woodpecker or barbet nest or find a natural cavity.

References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 280

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 107

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 198

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 241

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 74

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 194

Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: P. Ginn & G. McIlleron - Published: 1981 - Page: 29

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 286

Know your Garden Birds - Author: - Published: 0 - Page: 31

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 386

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 386

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 397

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 514

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 524

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 674

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 672

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 366

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 400

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 76

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 313

Wild Issue 39 - Author: - Published: 2017 - Page: 74

BirdLife South Africa


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List of South African Birds

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